'Kiddie korps' tames Tigers; three games this week

Marcus Plaehn of the Knights tries to put the ball over the outstretched hand of a Chatfield defender.

Last Saturday the the "kiddie korps" - a reference to the youthfulness of the Kingsland boys basketball team, and in no way intended to be an insult - beat Stewartville 71-58 in non-conference action.

Stewartville started five seniors, while the Kingsland starting five consisted of one ninth grader, two sophomores, one junior and one senior....and at one extended "stretch of time," the Knights were playing four sophomores and one freshman. The future is definitely bright for coach John Fenske and the Kingsland Knights.

Leading the way against the Tigers was freshman Quinn Larson (24 pts.) and sophomores Jacob Rindels (13 pts.) and Isiah Bubany (13 pts.). Senior Marshall Oeltjen chipped in nine points. As a team, the Knights shot 42 percent from the field, 22 of 52, and 67 percent from the free throw line, 16 of 24. Larson was 7 for 7 from the charity line, with Oeltjen hitting 3 of 3, Bubany 3 of 4, Rindels 2 of 3 and Julius Wolf 1 of 2.

The guys also hit 42 percent of their three-pointers, 11 of 27, with Larson at 5 of 10, Bubany at 2 of 3 and Rindels hitting 3 of 6.

The Knights took a 31-22 lead into the halftime intermission and extended that lead to 12 (46-34, 12:27) before Stewartville cut the lead to two, 46-44 (9:42). Kingsland fought off the pressure, maintained their cool and out-scored their opponent 25-12 in the last nine minutes of the game.

Isiah Bubany, Lenny Moore and Marcus Plaehn led the team with five rebounds each. Larson topped the steals with three and assists with four.

Kingsland also had a good offensive night against Lewiston-Altura, scoring 68 points, but defensively they gave up 84, losing the TRC contest. Quinn Larson topped the scoring for the Knights with 28, including six of 10 from beyond the arc. Marshall Oeltjen was also in double-figures with 10. Oeltjen also led the team with seven rebounds and five steals. Larson added five rebounds and three assists to his night's work. Isiah Bubany had a team high five assists.

Last Tuesday the Kingsland boys lost to Chatfield, 66-55. Three players, Larson (18), Meskill (15) and Oeltjen (10) scored in double-figures. Oeltjen led the team with nine rebounds. Plaehn contributed seven points and six rebounds.

All of Jordan Meskill's points came from three-pointers, as he connected on five of seven from long range.